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Not buying what the NFL is selling

2 cents

The NFL definitely needs to address the bullying issues highlighted by the situation in Miami. And if the league wants to start penalizing players for making racial slurs, fine by me.

But I can’t believe this business actually cares about the people involved as much as it cares about how it looks. Otherwise, its culture of sexism and the turning a blind eye to blatant disrespect toward women would have been nipped in the bud a long time ago. The NFL has plenty of female fans and followers (and male fans who have mothers and daughters), but that doesn’t stop the league from allowing the objectification of women through “cheerleaders,” promotions, calendars, etc. No longer cheering on the team, the NFL cheerleader’s image has taken on a new identity, with a lot less material and much more provocative moves.

And while Richie Incognito will be lucky to ever get to play in the pros again after being a complete jerk to teammate Jonathan Martin, Adam “Pac-Man”Jones has had multiple opportunities despite a despicable history of relationships with women. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault by more than one woman, and at best, behaved in a piggish manner toward his female companions at a Georgia bar, but got no more than a six-game suspension. I also find it hard to believe no one saw or reported something amiss with Darren Sharper’s dealings with women.

And who wants to bet Ray Rice, who was charged with assaulting his fiancee, will be back starring for the Ravens next season as if nothing happened?

Either way, I’ll believe the NFL really cares about how people are treated when it cares more about protecting women than it cares about protecting its image.